Automatic feed control



E. R. RAMSEY AND A. L. BLOMFIELD.

AUTOMATIC FEED CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR,5,1919.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

' z suenssuezr 1.

hl l l Q a o [{[I [MN w l G, w)

INVENTORS [L 446/? ff fiA/wszy AND A L. BL OMF/iL 0.

Patented M1525, 1922.

2 S.IEETS-SHE ET 2.

R. RAMSEY AND A. LfBLOMFIELD.

AUTOMATIC FEED CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1919.

y INVENTQRS 2 MEA Eff/4M5;- Y AND ,4. L 51. OMF/fLD.

A TTORNF ELMER R. RAMSEY, OF DENVER, AND ALFRED L. BLOMFIELD, OFCOLORADO SPRINGS,

COLORADO, ASSIGNOBS TO THE RATIOIhT OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC} rnnn common.

' I Applicationffil'ed April 5, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER R. RAMSEY and ALFRED L. BLoMFInLn, citizensof the United States, residing, respectively, at Denver, in the countyof Denver and State of" tem of cooperative devices: w ich operates toregulate the feed to a classifier by and proportionate to variationsinthe weight of all or part of the'material under treatment. 7

Variations in the weight of a load of a separating apparatus-of! thetype to which.

' the inventionis applicable, are directly proportionate to increases ordecreases in the quantity of the coarser part or oversize of thematerial which in wet classification settles out of the liquid andsuspended slimes, and itiis specifically by variations" in the weight ofthe'coarse or oversize product of the classifier that the feed isregulated inthe operation of our; invention.

Another object of the invention is to utilize variations in the weightof an oversize product of\ ,the classifier for maintaining the loaduniformly at a predetermined density by automatically increasing ordecreasing a water supply in ratio to density variations.-

The weight of the coarse product of the separating action is effectivefor the purpose of regulating the feed, while it is a part of the loadof the classifier or after it is discharged therefrom, and we desire itunderstood that either method may be utilized within the principle ofour inventions A system of devices applicable for use under each of theabove-named conditions has been shown in the accompanying: drawin's inwhich gure 1, the system as emplo ed "when the feeding actionandliquidsupp yare controlled by the material in theclassifier, and

. Figure 2, the system as arranged when variationsin't-he weight of theoversize after Hfifilii 11fiib thef classifier. 1s ut Specification ofLetters Patent. PatentedJApr. 25, 1922.

1919. Serial No. 287,906.

- lized to regulate the feed of fresh material and the supply ofadditional liquid to the materiali under treatment.-

FigureB represents a section of the valve which controls the watersupply, in its normal, partially open position.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumeral 2 designates aclassifier of suitable construction which receives its load from anendless belt 3 through the medium of a,

chute 4 and which discharges the oversize of the classified materialthrough a chute 5.

The endless feedbelt is mounted on rollers 6 and 7 and receives its'loadfroma superposed bin 8, and the roller 7 is connected by a belt 18 withthe rotary element of an electric motor 19 which receives its currentthe velocity of the motor will be proportion- '1- ately reduced orincreased.

In the operation of the above-described system the feed belt conveysthematerial discharged from! the supply bin 8, contin- DORE COMPANY, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A'CORPO- uously to the chute 4 which delivers it intothe classifier and the valve 16, which preferably is of the butterflytype, 1s m a par- 'tially' open position as shown in Figure 4 tocontinuously supplya certain quantity of 'water to the materials undertreatment.

When the load onthe feed belt increases in weight so as to overbalancethe resistance to the movement of the. lever-12, consequentincrease ofdensity of ,the load in the classifier is obviated by an immediateincrease of the liquid flowing; to the classifier through the conduit17, by further open1ng the valve through the medium of the connectingrod 175. a f

The movement of the lever at'the same .time increases the resistance tothe current flow through the -circu1t,-j1nl the rheostat,

whereby the movement of the feed-belt is mal. p I

It will be see that by these means,overretarded until the conditions areagain nor avoided and that in'case the supply of material to the feedbelt is diminished so as valve.

to .underload the classifier, the feeding action of the belt isautomatically accelerated means of a link'2'6-connected with the/shortarm'of a second lever 12.

. A spring 14 acting upon the lon arm of the lever 12'compensates forthe weight of the parts connected to'its opposite arm and the link 15connects the long arm of the lever with the crank arm 16 of a valve .16which controls the flow of a liquid through a conduit17. leading from asourcesupply and emptying-into1the classifier. A rheostat 23 introducina variable re sistance in the circuit of the motor is controlled by acontact on the'long arm of the lever so that any movement of the leverabout its fulcrum will'change the velocity ofthe motor and inconsequence that of, thev feed belt 3.

In the operation of the above-described system the feed belt conveys thematerial discharged from the supply bi'n' 8, continuously-to the chute 4which delivers it into the classifier and the valve 16 which pIef-'erably is ofthe butterfly type, is in a par-' tially open position as show'n, in Figure 3 to" continuously supply a certain quantity I of waterto the material under treatment.

When the load I in the classifier increases inweight so as tooverbalance the resistance i loadiigg to the movement of the lever 12,consequent increase of densityof the load is obviated by an immediateincrease of the liquid flow-. ing to the classifier through the conduit17 by further opening the "valve through the medium of theconnecting-rod 15.

r The vmovement of the lever at the same time increases the resistanceto' the current.

flow through the circuit, in the rheostat, whereby the movement of thefeed-belt is reti rded until. the conditions. are again norma It will beseen that by these vmeans, overof the classifier is automatically avoidand that in case the supplyof material to the feed belt is diminished soas to' underload'the classifienthe feeding actionof the belt isautomatically accelerated by a movement 'of'the lever in'the oppositedi-t rection and-a consequent decrease in the resistance to. the.current flowthrough the oversize product of the classifier. J

circuit in the rheostat, while at the same time the water supplied totheclassifieris' diminished by a closing movement of the valve. v v Inthe construction illustrated in Figure 2, the feeding action of the beltis controlled by variations in the weight of the oversized product ofclassification after this discharge from-the classifier in a determinateperiod of operation.

fier'is through the-chute 5 delivered onto an endless belt 27 which ismounted on rollers 28 and 29. One of the-rollers is supported instationary bearings'3O and the other is a link 32 from the short arm ofthe lever 12.

When the..weight of the oversize dis charge from the classifier in adeterminate period of operation varies from-a predetermined uniformquantity, the consequent pivotal movement of the belt 27 will cause anincrease. or decrease of the resistance tothe current flowinthe-rheostat and a consequent retardation or acceleration of themovement of the feed belt, while the supply of water to thematerialunder ,treatment through theconduit 17 is proportionately reduced oraugmented to regulate the density vof the loa in the classifier andthereby assist in maintaining its operation at the maximum ofefliciency.

It will thus-be seen that by the use of our invention variations in theweight of the material under treatment in the classifier directlyproportionatexto the weight of its mounted in boxes 31 which aresuspended bycoarser product either beforeor after it is dischargedtherefrom, are utilized to automatically regulate the .feed for the con-.stant operatlon ofthe .niaohine to its full.

We desire, it, understood that the system of devices shown in thedrawings i's-merely illustrative as oneof many methods that maybeemployed to produce the desired. results, and that our invention isapplicable to any classifying machine irrespective 'of' its size orconstruction.

h Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure{by Letters-Patent is:

' 1. In combination, a classifier, anappliance forlfeeding. materialthereto, means for receiving the oversize product, and means forregulating the feeding'actionof said appliance by .variatiomis'in the.weight of an -2. In; combination, a classifier, an applianoexgforfeeding material thereto,'means for receiving the, oversize product, avalve-controlled liquid-supply, and mechanim for, I

regulating the feedingaction of'said applt.

m ce by variati in the weight of an over- 75 The .oversize dischargefrom the classiadjustment of its valve.

size product of the classifier, including means to simultaneouslyregulate the liquid-supply 3. In an apparatus for'thetreatment ofgranular material, a circuit, a feeding appliance, an electric motor forthe feeding appliance, connected in the circuit, a rheostat in thecircuit, and Weighing means including a movable member for operating therheostat by variations in the Weight of material under treatment tocorrespondingly regulate the feeding action of the appliance.

4:. In an apparatus for the treatment of granular, material, a?classifier, means for feeding material to said classifier, means forreceiving the oversize from the classifier, a Weigher for said oversizematerial and means for operating said feeding means including means forregulating the said supplyactuated by the operation of said weigher.

5. In an apparatus for the treatment of granular material, a classifier,weighing mechanism adapted to receive oversize from said classifier andhaving a lever'supported element, a feeding appliance, a valvecontrolled liquid supply, and mechanism'actuated through the medium ofthe lever by variations of material toregulate the feed- I ing action ofsaid' appliance and to simultaneously regulate the liquid supply by theadjustment of itsvalve.

6. In a classifying apparatus, a classifier, Weighing mechanism adaptedtoreceive oversize from said classifier and having an element movable byvariations in the weight of an oversize in material under treatment,

a feeding appliance, and means actuated by movement of said element tocorrespondingly regulate the feeding action of said appliance.

- 7. In a classifying apparatus, a classifier, weighing mechanismadapted to receive element movable by variations in the weight of anoversize in the material under treatment, a feeding appliance, a valvecontrolled liquid supply, and means actuated by movement of said elementto regulate the feeding action of said appliance and other means alsoactuated by the said element for simultaneously regulating the liquidsupply by adjustment of its valve.

8. In classifying apparatus, a classifier,

Weighing mechanism having means connected therewith for receivingoversize ma-' stat in the circuit, a valve controlled liquid supply, andweighing means including a movable member operated by variations in theweight of material under treatment, and means connected with the saidmember and with the rheostat and the valve of the liquid supply forcontrolling the current and the supply of liquid.

In testimony whereof We have afiixed our signatures.

' ELMER R. RAMSEY.

ALFRED L. BLOMFIELD.

. oversize from said classifier and having an

